Meridian International Center and Global Service Leaders Join the World in Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King with “Warm-up, DC”

January 9, 2014

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington D.C.: On January 20, 2014, Meridian International Centerand its Global Service Leaders (GSL) initiative will honor the legacy and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a progressive service project, Warm Up, DC. This unique project, which is part of a global service program, In Honor of Heroes, brings together the Washington community in an effort to share resources with those hit hardest by the impending cold winter weather, volunteers will collect, donate, and share items to be donated to, and distributed by, Martha’s Table.

Some of the key highlights of the dynamic service day activities include a Super Heroes Writing Workshop to encourage creative writing among children and bicycle collection by Bikes for the World, a program which collects, reconditions, and ships bicycles to distribute to people around the world who need of this viable transportation option.

Designed to address Dr. Marin Luther King’s challenge, “What are you doing for others?” , Warm Up, DC will feature “pop-up” service projects, activities and donation sites occurring along the U Street corridor, between 14th and 16th Streets, NW in Washington, DC, as follows:

Overview of Activities

Service Day Kick-off and 2nd Annual Knit-in9:30am-11:30am | Busboys and Poets - 2021 14th St, NW
The 2014 Warm Up, DC Day of Service will be officially kicked off at Busboys and Poetswith remarks by Founder, Andy Shallal and Meridian’s CEO, Ambassador Stuart Holliday with civic-minded poetry and performances as a fitting back-drop at this community institution, participants for the “knit-in” — beginners welcome! — will create hats, scarves and gloves to be donated to Martha’s Table upon completion.

MLK Pro Bono Dream Lab10:00am-3:00pm | Meridian’s White-Meyer House (Drawing Room) - 1624 Crescent Place, NW
Join DC Social Innovation Project, IMPACT, and Taproot Foundation DCfor MLK Pro Bono Dream Lab, which will bring together skilled volunteers, community members and local organizations for a day of impact through pro bono service. Community members may either have an idea for a new program or be seeking to improve an existing local initiative. To apply for assistance with marketing, HR, IT, or strategy, among other fields — or to sign up as a skilled volunteer — please complete this form.

GSL Virtual Storytelling Lab
10:00am-1:30pm | Meridian’s White-Meyer House (Library) - 1624 Crescent Place, NWParallel to the Dream Lab, GSL’s international membership will benefit from a webinar on “Strategic Storytelling” led by Reed Sandridge, GSL Advisory Council member and corporate consultant. Participants will submit in advance a first draft of their “story”—accompanied by a compelling visual. The interactive seminar will engage with participants to improve and streamline messaging, followed by one-on-one (virtual) consulting sessions.

Super Heroes Writing Workshop
11:30am-1:30pm | Center for Community Change - 1536 U St, NW
A creative writing workshop for children and teens will be offered at the Center for Community Change. These bright young voices will have the opportunity to highlight their (super) heroes who inspire them — from Nelson Mandela to a favorite teacher to Spider-Man — and explore the reasons why. Messages about heroes from around the world, as submitted by members of Meridian’s GSL community from over 100 countries, will be shared over hot chocolate.

Bicycle Collection
12:00pm-3:00pm | Meridian International Center - 1624 Crescent Place, NW (Parking Lot)
Put your old, unused bicycle (or bike parts) to good use and help someone get to work and school in 2014 and beyond. Working with partners in every corner of the globe, Bikes for the Worldcollects, reconditions, and ships bicycles to distribute to those in need of this viable transportation option. A $10 donation per bike is suggested to defray costs of shipping overseas.

About Global Service Leaders (GSL)
Globally, GSL motivates and connects emerging leaders from around the world to address community challenges through volunteerism. In our local D.C. and domestic communities, GSL develops innovative service projects to demonstrate the power of civic engagement and educate American service leaders on the needs and accomplishments of their peers around the world.

About Meridian International Center
Meridian International Center, founded in 1960, is a leading non-partisan, not-for-profit institution dedicated to strengthening international understanding and global engagement. Meridian works with the U.S. State Department and U.S. embassies worldwide to create lasting international partnerships through leadership and cultural exchanges. Meridian also connects U.S. and foreign governments with the private sector to respond to global challenges and sustain impact.

Meridian’s mission is to create innovative exchange, education, cultural, and policy programs that advance three goals:

Strengthen U.S. engagement with the world through the power of exchange

Prepare public and private sector leaders for a complex global future

Provide a neutral forum for international collaboration across sectors